U.S. patent number 11,403,382 [Application Number 17/146,919] was granted by the patent office on 2022-08-02 for method and device for comparing personal biological data of two users.
This patent grant is currently assigned to DNANUDGE LIMITED. The grantee listed for this patent is DNANudge Limited. Invention is credited to Christofer Toumazou, Georgina Toumazou.
United States Patent |
11,403,382 |
Toumazou , et al. |
August 2, 2022 |
Method and device for comparing personal biological data of two
users
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of comparing one or more genetic
traits of two users. Each user has a wearable device storing data
indicative of the one or more genetic traits, the data having been
obtained by an analysis of a biological sample provided by the
user. The method comprises: transmitting the data indicative of the
one or more genetic traits from a first of the wearable devices to
a first computer device using a short-range wireless data
connection; transmitting the data from the first computer device to
a second computer device over a data network; transmitting the data
from the second computer device to a second of the wearable devices
over a short-range wireless data connection; and comparing the data
from the first wearable device with the data stored on the second
wearable device to determine whether there is a match between the
users' one or more genetic traits.
Inventors: |
Toumazou; Christofer (London,
GB), Toumazou; Georgina (London, GB) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DNANudge Limited |
London |
N/A |
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
DNANUDGE LIMITED (London,
GB)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006469055 |
Appl.
No.: |
17/146,919 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2021 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20210133303 A1 |
May 6, 2021 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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16733630 |
Jan 3, 2020 |
10922397 |
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16043709 |
Jul 24, 2019 |
10582897 |
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PCT/GB2019/052069 |
Jul 24, 2019 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/163 (20130101); G06Q 30/0631 (20130101); H04L
63/0442 (20130101); G06F 16/24 (20190101); H04W
12/033 (20210101); H04W 4/80 (20180201); G06F
21/32 (20130101); H04W 4/21 (20180201); G06F
21/35 (20130101); G06F 16/953 (20190101); G16B
20/20 (20190201) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
9/54 (20060101); H04W 12/033 (20210101); G16B
20/20 (20190101); G06F 16/953 (20190101); G06F
16/24 (20190101); H04W 4/80 (20180101); H04W
4/21 (20180101); G06Q 30/06 (20120101); H04L
9/40 (20220101); G06F 1/16 (20060101); G06F
21/32 (20130101); G06F 21/35 (20130101) |
Field of
Search: |
;719/313
;709/204,217 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Ho; Andy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
16/733,630, filed on Jan. 3, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part
of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/043,709, filed on Jul. 24, 2018,
and is also a continuation-in-part of International Application No.
PCT/GB2019/052069, filed on Jul. 24, 2019, the entire contents of
each being fully incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user of a
computer system, the method comprising, at the computer system:
establishing a short-range wireless data connection to a wearable
device storing user data indicative of one or more nutrition-
and/or skin-related genetic traits of the user and obtained by an
analysis of a genetic test performed on a biological sample
provided by the user; receiving authentication data from the
wearable device over the short-range wireless data connection, the
authentication data being derived using the user data; and
authenticating the user by verifying that the received
authentication data is derived from the user data.
2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein
said verifying comprises determining whether the received
authentication data matches corresponding authentication data
stored by the computer system.
3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein
said wearable device is a wrist-worn device.
4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein
the computer system is or comprises a portable computer device.
5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4, wherein
the portable computer device is a smartphone.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and wearable device for
comparing personal biological data of two users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Semiconductor, nanotechnology and optical technologies have made
significant contributions to people's lifestyle, especially by
facilitating hardware miniaturisation. Its application to the
sequencing and genotyping industry has enabled so-called
"lab-on-chip" systems. Depending on the biological questions/genes
of interest, primer(s)/probe(s)--more generally referred to as
"biomarkers"--are designed accordingly. A biomarker is an
oligonucleotide such as a DNA molecule and may target certain
gene(s)/variation(s). A biomarker may alternatively, for example,
be an antibody or an antigen. By applying/choosing different types
of biomarkers on such systems, a customer can test his/her
biological sample, DNA, RNA, protein etc, (extracted locally or
remotely by a third party from e.g. saliva, blood, urine, tissue,
stool, hair etc) for specific traits, possibly as dictated by
certain lifestyle concerns or interest.
Such "personal" genetic or biological information enables medical
decisions to be made more effectively, for example, by selecting
treatments or drug doses which are more likely to work for
particular patients. Identifying individual differences at a
molecular level also allows lifestyle and dietary advice to be
tailored according to the needs of individuals or particular
classes of individuals. For example, personal care products such as
cosmetics, cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals may be selected based
on how effective these products are for individuals having certain
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in their DNA. A number of
private companies have been created in order to cater for the
growing consumer genetics market and every day new genetic traits
are being described, generating a continuously expanding catalogue
of biomarkers that have the potential to offer insight into the
health, wellbeing, and, in the case of genetic variations,
phenotype, of a great many people.
Whilst such "unlocking" of an individual's genetic data as
described above may benefit the individual in many different ways,
the abstract nature of the data may make it difficult for the
individual to appreciate its value. For example, individuals may
not feel that they have "ownership" of their data or they may feel
they are unable themselves to make use of their data because of its
complexity or inaccessibility. Privacy concerns may also dissuade
individuals from making use of their data.
U.S. Ser. No. 10/043,590B2 describes a wearable device for
providing product recommendations based on a user's biological
information, such as genetic data. The wearable device incorporates
a laser scanner or barcode reader which the wearer of the device
uses to identify a product he or she is interested in purchasing or
consuming. The device then provides an indication whether or not
the product is recommended for the wearer based on his or her
biological information. For example, an analysis of a user's DNA
may have revealed that the user metabolises caffeine more slowly
than most other people, in which case, the wearable device may
recommend that he or she avoids coffee. Users of the wearable
device described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/043,590B2 are, however, not
easily able to compare product recommendations or biological
information with one another. Whilst two users may, for example,
scan the same product and see whether or not the indication
provided by their respective wearable devices is the same, this
process can be laborious and does not necessarily allow users to
identify which aspects of their biological or genetic identities
are different or which aspects they may have in common. Users can
of course discuss their biological information while simultaneously
viewing the information on their smartphones. Nonetheless, a fast,
almost instantaneous, method of comparing information is
desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided a computer-implemented method of comparing one or more
genetic traits of two users. Each user has a wearable device
storing data indicative of the one or more genetic traits, the data
having been obtained by an analysis of a biological sample provided
by the user. The method comprises: transmitting the data indicative
of the one or more genetic traits from a first of the wearable
devices to a first computer device using a short-range wireless
data connection; transmitting the data from the first computer
device to a second computer device over a data network;
transmitting the data from the second computer device to a second
of the wearable devices over a short-range wireless data
connection; and comparing the data from the first wearable device
with the data stored on the second wearable device to determine
whether there is a match between the users' one or more genetic
traits.
The method may further comprise operating an indicator at the
second wearable device and/or the second computer device to provide
a visual, audio or other sensory indication of the result.
The data indicative of the one or more genetic traits may comprise
data indicative of nutrition- and/or skin-related genetic
traits.
Each short-range wireless data connection may conform to a
Bluetooth protocol, preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy profile, or a
near-field communication protocol.
Each short-range wireless data connection may be established by
detecting that the respective wearable device is within a
predefined distance of, or in contact with, the respective computer
device, preferably wherein said predefined distance is less than 10
cm, or more preferably, less than 5 cm.
Each wearable device may be a wrist-worn device and/or each
computer device is a portable computer device, preferably a
smartphone.
The method may comprise, at the first computer device, receiving an
invitation to compare one or more genetic traits with another user.
The invitation may comprise data indicative of the one or more
genetic traits of the other user. The invitation may be sent in
response to one of the users identifying the other user using an
online search tool. The data transmitted from the first wearable
device may be encrypted using a public encryption key associated
with or included in the invitation. The second wearable device may
store a corresponding private key for decrypting data encrypted
using the public key.
The method may comprise switching the first user device to a mode
for establishing a short-range wireless data connection with the
first wearable device in response to receiving user input
indicative of the invitation being accepted. The method may also
comprise forming a connection between the respective users in a
social network in response to receiving user input indicative of
the invitation being accepted. The user may accept the invitation
using the wearable device, preferably by pressing a button on the
wearable device or performing a gesture using the wearable
device.
The data may only be made available to the second wearable device
if the one or more servers of the data network have received data
indicative of one or more genetic traits stored on the second
wearable device.
The method may comprise, at either of the computer devices or
wearable devices, receiving a user selection of which one or more
genetic traits are to be compared.
The data from the first wearable device may be deleted from the
second wearable device after a predetermined time.
Each wearable device may store user activity data indicative of one
or more physiological and/or biochemical functions of the user, or
indicative of a user environment. The method may further comprise,
in response to determining that there is a match between the users'
one or more genetic traits, comparing the user activity data of the
first wearable device with the user activity data of second
wearable device to determine whether there is a match between the
users' behaviours as indicated by the respective data.
Each wearable device may be configured to provide product
recommendations in respect of one or more consumable, topically
applied and/or body-worn products, the product recommendations
being modulated for each user depending on the user activity data,
and wherein the compared user activity data comprises data
indicative of one or more product recommendations having been
modulated.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a computer-implemented method for authenticating a user of
a computer system. The method comprises, at the computer system:
establishing a short-range wireless data connection to a wearable
device storing user data obtained by an analysis of a biological
sample provided by the user; receiving authentication data from the
wearable device over the short-range wireless data connection, the
authentication data being derived using the user data; and
authenticating the user by verifying that the received
authentication data is derived from the user data.
Verifying that the received authentication data is derived from the
user data may comprise determining whether the received
authentication data matches corresponding authentication data
stored by the computer system.
The user data may comprise data indicative of one or more genetic
traits, preferably data indicative of nutrition- and/or
skin-related genetic traits.
The wearable device may be a wrist-worn device and/or the computer
device may be a portable computer device, such as a smartphone.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a wearable device comprising a memory storing data
associated with a personal biology of a user, a short-range
wireless transceiver for receiving, from a peer wearable device,
data associated with a personal biology of a peer user, and a
processor for comparing the received data with the data stored in
the memory in order to determine whether or not there is a match.
The device further comprises an indicator for generating a visual,
audio or other sensory indication of a match when the data is
determined to match.
The device may be operable to receive the data from a peer wearable
device in response to detecting that the peer wearable device is
within a predefined distance or is in contact. The step of
detecting that the other wearable device is within a predefined
distance of the wearable device may comprise detecting that the
strength or quality of a signal transmitted from the peer wearable
device exceeds a predefined value. The transceiver may operate
using Bluetooth protocol, preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy
profile, or a near-field communication protocol. The predefined
distance may less than 10 cm, preferably less than 5 cm, or
possibly less than 0.5 cm.
The indicator may be configured to generate a visual, audio or
other sensory indication of a non-match when the data does not
match.
The data associated with a personal biology of a user may comprise
one or more scores, the or each score indicating whether the user
is predisposed to or has an associated personal behaviour or
condition. By way of example, the data may indicate a user's
ability to metabolise caffeine, his or her sensitivity to calories
and carbohydrates etc, all of which characteristics are derivable
from an analysis of certain parts of the user's genetics.
The wearable device is a wrist-worn device, e.g. comprising a
wristband or wrist strap.
The transceiver may be configured to transmit the data associated
with a personal biology of a user stored in said memory, to the
peer device, in response to detecting that the peer device is
within a predefined distance or in contact.
The wearable device may comprise a sensor, such as an
accelerometer, for detecting a user input or gesture. The device is
configured upon detection of such an input or gesture to switch
from a first mode in which data is not exchanged with a peer device
to a second mode in which data is exchanged.
The device may comprise a memory storing product codes and product
code recommendations, and a product code reader for reading a
product code from a product. The processor may configured to obtain
a product recommendation for a read product code and said indicator
is configured to generate a visual, audio or other sensory
indication of the obtained product recommendation. The product code
reader may be a barcode scanner.
The wearable device may be a smartphone.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a system for allowing a user to compare data, associated
with his or her personal biology, with a peer user. The system
comprises a wearable device according to the above first aspect of
the invention and a computer device in wireless communication with
said wearable device, the computer device allowing the user to
select the data on which the match is to be carried out from a set
of data stored in the memory of the wearable device. The wearable
device may be a wrist-worn device and the computer device may be a
smartphone.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a computer-implemented method of comparing data associated
with personal biologies of respective users stored on respective
wearable devices. The method comprises detecting by the wearable
devices that the wearable devices are within a predefined distance
of each other or in contact with each other and, in response to
said detection, exchanging said data between the devices via a
wireless interface. The method further comprises comparing the data
of the users at one or both of the devices to determine whether or
not the data matches, and operating an indicator at one or both of
the devices to provide a visual, audio or other sensory indication
of a match when the data is determined to match.
The method may comprise providing individual selection or
deselection control of categories of biological information to be
shared with others through external computer devices such as
smartphones in communication with said wearable devices.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of allowing users to remotely compare their
genetic traits. The method comprises: storing first information
relating to a first user's genetic traits in a computer memory of a
wrist worn device computer device; transmitting said first
information from the wrist worn computer device to a further
computer device via a short range wireless data connection; further
transmitting said first information to a network server and/or to a
second user's computer device; at said network server or said
second user's computer device, comparing said first information
against second information relating to said second user's genetic
traits to determine an extent to which they match; and transmitting
from said network server or said second user's computer device data
indicating said extent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a pair of users exchanging
personal biological information using wearable devices;
FIG. 2 is a schematic system view of the wearable device of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram further illustrating how the wearable
devices of FIG. 1 can be used to exchange personal biological
information;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a user interface for
displaying a user's biological information; and
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method forming a connection
between two users of a social network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments described here aim to address the problems
described above by allowing users to compare their personal
biological information in a way which is convenient and secure.
This personal biological data is typically data derived from a
person's biology, e.g. genetic traits. The personal biological
information is stored on a wearable device which comprises a
transmitter and receiver for transferring the biological data from
between wearable devices when they are brought close to or in
contact with one another. After the biological data has been
exchanged, the wearable device compares the two sets of data to
determine aspects of the data which are common to both users and/or
the differences between the two sets of data. Performing the
comparison at the wearable device helps ensure that the process is
quick and reliable, e.g. because communication with a remote server
is not required. This does not preclude of course the involvement
of a remote server (e.g. in the "cloud"). The results of the
comparison are then presented to the users. For example, although a
pair of friends/users may each know that they themselves have
gluten intolerance, they may otherwise be unaware that their friend
has the same intolerance. Conversely, one user may have a
predisposition which requires them to abstain from eating too much
red meat, whereas another user may be predisposed to anaemia,
requiring them to eat an iron/meat rich diet. Comparisons based on
the biological information of the two users may therefore encourage
them discuss how to best manage a particular condition or to decide
on a meal they can share or a restaurant which is appropriate for
them both.
Allowing users to "share and compare" their biological information
with a simple cooperative gesture provides a playful and social
dimension to what might otherwise seem to the users to be a fairly
abstract exercise. For example, when there is a "match" for the
biological information of two users then the social connection
between those users may be reinforced, or the process of making the
comparison may act as an "icebreaker" for further interactions and
discussions between the two users. Furthermore, these social
aspects may encourage the users to have a greater awareness of
their biological identities and lead or "nudge" them towards making
better health and lifestyle decisions.
The personal biological data that is compared is not limited to
data relating to nutrition but can extend to any characteristics
that are derived from personal biological data. For example, data
that is compared may relate to skincare and
cosmetics/cosmeceuticals, fitness/activity, smoking, alcohol,
etc.
The personal biological information of a user may comprise personal
genetic or epigenetic data or proteomic data, obtained by an
analysis of a biological sample (e.g. a mouth swab) provided by the
user. For example, the biological sample can be analysed using
primers, strands of short nucleic acid sequences that serve as a
starting point for DNA synthesis. As is known in the prior art,
such primers can be used in the detection of genetic
single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and more particularly to
determine the variation type (or allele) of a tested individual for
a given SNP. Alternatively, or additionally, the personal
biological information may comprise information related to the
microbiome of the user, such as the presence or absence of certain
gut bacteria (e.g. Helicobacter pylori). Such microbiome data may
be obtained by breath testing. The personal biological information
may also comprise information about a physiological property of the
user (such as the current or historic heart rate of the user),
which in some cases, may be obtained by a sensing device
incorporated in the wearable device.
The personal biological information may also be derived from one or
more of the above types of data. For example, the personal
biological data may comprise recommendations for certain products
or services, or classes of product or services, which an analysis
of the above types of data has revealed are particularly suitable
for the user or that should be avoided by the user. These
recommendations may be derived from biological filter codes which
map to respective products or services or categories of products or
services but do not explicitly identify a user's genetic or
biological information. For example, there may be a biological
filter code which indicates that a user is likely to be more
adversely affected (because of his or her genetic traits) by foods
with high cholesterol. In this case, by comparing the biological
filter codes (or the biological information used to derive the
filter codes), users are able to be see whether they are likely to
be recommended similar products or services. This may encourage
greater interaction and discussion between the users and may give
rise to a positive "synergy" in which the users are more likely to
take notice of the product recommendations and/or more likely to
compare their biological data.
FIG. 1 illustrates two users exchanging personal biological
information using wrist-worn wearable devices 100, 102. In the
example shown in the figure, the expanding curved lines indicate
that information is being transmitted from one device 100 and
received by the other device 102. In this case, a Bluetooth Low
Energy (BLE) protocol is used to exchange the biological
information, although other protocols designed for data
transmission over relatively short distances, such as a near-field
communication (NFC) protocol may be used. When an NFC protocol is
used, the devices are typically required to be brought within about
5 cm of each other in order to establish a communication channel
between them. ISP 1507 (NFC & ANT BLE) module based on Nordic
Semiconductor nRF52 chip is used and it is integrated with Cortex
M4 CPU, flash, RAM memory and optimised antenna. The range at which
a "connection" is established may be (user) configurable.
Transmitting the personal biological information over only a short
range means that the users are required to bring their devices into
relatively close proximity. This re-assures the users that their
data will not be intercepted by third-parties (introducing a high
degree of privacy) and adds a social element to the process of
exchanging the biological information which is similar to shaking
hands, for example. In some examples, the wearable devices may be
required to come into contact (or be "tapped" one against the
other) in order for the exchange of data to take place or to
initiate the exchange. The biological information may also be
exchanged in encrypted form. For example, biological information
may be encrypted using a public key associated with the intended
recipient and then decrypted using the corresponding private key
stored on the recipient's wearable device. The recipient's wearable
device may also store the received biological information for only
a short time (e.g. less than 30 s) or no longer than is necessary
for performing the comparison.
FIG. 2 is a schematic system view of the wearable devices 100, 102
of FIG. 1. Each wearable device 100, 102 comprises a gesture sensor
for triggering the mode for exchanging data, a receiver 202 for
receiving data 204, and a transmitter 206 for transmitting data
208, according to a wireless communication protocol as discussed
above. The gesture sensor, the receiver 202 and the transmitter 206
communicate with a processor 210 which is connected to a memory 212
which contains the personal biological information 214 of the user
associated with the wearable device 100, 102. In use, the processor
210 retrieves the personal biological information 214 from the
memory 212 and transmits it using the transmitter 206. Personal
biological information 214 received by receiver 202 can also be
stored in memory 212, allowing the processor 210 to compare the
received information 214 with the information 214 of the user.
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating how the wearable devices
100, 102 (which are designated in the figure as "Band 1" and "Band
2") can be used to exchange personal biological information. In
steps 300 and 300' the respective wearers of the bands perform an
action to put the device into a "matching mode". In this example, a
"double tap" gesture is used, with the gesture being detected by,
for example, an accelerometer/gyroscope (MPU-6050 combining a
3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer) in the wearable
device, though of course other gestures or modes of user input,
such as a button or a touch screen, can also be used. Each device
may stay in the matching mode for some pre-defined period of time,
e.g. 10-15 seconds, after which the matching mode is switched
off.
In steps 301 and 301' the devices scan for other devices while
simultaneously advertising that they are available for matching. In
steps 302 and 302', the respective devices wait until they have
found another device in the matching mode. A relative received
signal strength indication (RSSI) is measured by each device (steps
303 and 303'). The measured RSSI values are an indication of the
power level of the signal being received by each device from the
other. Typically, RSSI values may be provided according to a
negative scale starting at -100 and ending at 0, with RSSI values
closer to 0 indicating stronger received signals. Other scales for
measuring the received signal strength can also be used, for
example, decibels referenced to one milliwatt (dBm) or a received
channel power indicator (RCPI) scale, which is part of the IEEE
802.11 standard. If the RSSI values exceed a certain value (e.g.
RSSI>-80 or a received signal strength of -80 dBm), then the
devices may connect to each other in order to exchange biological
information (steps 304 and 304'). In example shown in the figure,
the transfer (exchange) of biological information is unidirectional
between the devices.
One of the devices (here, Band 1) receives the personal biological
data from Band 2. Band 1 then compares the received biological
information with the biological information stored in its memory
and then transmits the result(s) of the comparison to the other
device (steps 305 and 305') such that both bands now know the
result. The comparison of the personal biological information of
the users may be carried out in different ways depending on what
type of information is exchanged. For example, if the information
relates to particular genes, SNPs or DNA sequences, then the
comparison may involve determining whether those genes, SNPs or DNA
sequences are common to both users. Similarly, if the personal
biological information comprises a set of biological filter codes
for each user then these sets can be compared to see if there is
any overlap. The comparison may also involve determining the
probability that the users have a particular characteristic in
common in order to provide the users with a measure of how likely
or rare it is they share that characteristic.
The results of the comparison may be presented to each user by, for
example, illuminating a light-emitting diode (LED) (steps 306 and
306'), e.g. a green colour for the LED may indicate that there is a
match between the two users' biological information, whilst a red
colour may indicate no match. Other means for presenting the
results of the comparison to the users may also be used, such as a
display, a haptic device to apply a force or vibration to the
wearer of the band, or an audible alarm or voice synthesizer. In an
embodiment, each band stores the result temporarily in its RAM
memory whilst displaying the result. After the elapse of some short
period of time, e.g. 10 seconds, the indication is turned off and
the result deleted from the memories of both bands.
The wearable device is likely to have limited means for accepting
user inputs. The device may therefore be able to communicate with
an external computer device such as a smartphone, e.g. using a
Bluetooth interface. The smartphone may be configured with an app
that allows the user to control settings on the wearable device.
FIG. 4 illustrates a graphical user interface 400 that is provided
on a smartphone display, via an installed app, for displaying
information associated with a user's personal biological
information. In this example, the personal biological information
comprises numerical scores for categories such "Calorie
sensitivity" or "Fat sensitivity". The numerical scores are mapped
to user friendly text descriptions such as "Very High", "High",
"Med", "Low" or "Slow" for presentation in the user interface. The
different categories are presented as graphical user elements 401.
In some implementations, the user may select or deselect the
graphical user elements individually in order to control whether
the biological information associated with that category should be
shared with other users and/or used when comparing the users'
biological information. In FIG. 4 for example, the user has
selected four panels for sharing, namely "Caffeine Metabolism",
"Calorie Sensitivity", "Carbohydrate Sensitivity", and "Fat
Sensitivity (shown with selection in the Figure). Such control may
be useful for users to avoid revealing, either directly or
indirectly, information which they would rather remain private.
Comparison of two users' biological information may comprise
comparing the numerical scores in each of the categories to
determine whether or not any of the scores either match or are
approximately the same, i.e. differ by only a small relative or
absolute amount. Alternatively, weighted differences of the scores
can be used to define a similarity metric indicating how "alike"
the users are.
In the case that two peer users have selected categories for
matching that are different, this may be indicated by illuminating
a third colour of LED, e.g. white, in order to indicate to the
users that no matching is possible and that they should consider
selecting different categories.
The wearable device may also report back the results of comparisons
to the user's smartphone. If the identity of a peer user is known,
this could allow results to be logged at the smartphone/app. Based
on the results of a comparison, users might then be able to share
via their smartphone information regarding purchased products,
fitness, etc. In other words, the ability to compare biological
related information can form a basis of many different social
networking opportunities.
Although not described here in detail, it is possible that bands
may be provided with product code readers to allow the bands to
read product codes from products being considered for purchase or
consumption. Such readers may be barcode scanners and may allow
users to obtain product recommendations based upon product data
stored in the bands.
It is of course possible that only one of two peer users may have a
band, with the other only having a smartphone. In this case, there
may be an option in the smartphone app to display a code such as a
barcode on the phone's GUI which identifies the user's personal
biological data. A peer user having a band can then scan that code
using the band's product code reader and perform the comparison
described above. Of course, in this case the result may only be
displayed on the band, but that may be adequate as both users can
see the result.
The above described embodiments and examples have focussed on
exchanging personal biological information using peer wearable
devices 100, 102 that are in close proximity to one another, e.g.
using a short-range communication protocol, such as BLE. However,
personal biological information may alternatively be exchanged in
without requiring the wearable devices 100, 102 to be in the same
geographic location. For example, a user may want to compare his or
her product recommendations and/or biological information with a
user who is located in another city or country. One way in which
this can be done is via a social networking platform, in which one
of the users sends a request (often referred to as a "friend"
request) to the other user to establish a connection (i.e.
association or "edge") within the social network (social graph).
The other user can then accept or reject the request depending on
whether he or she wishes to be connected to the other user within
the social network. If the request is accepted, the users are
granted permission to view data (e.g. personal biological
information and/or product recommendations) associated with the
other user and/or to interact with one another, e.g. by sending
each other messages or communicating via a chat room interface.
In some cases, two users may become connected to each other in the
social network in response to having exchanged personal biological
information with one another using their wrist-worn wearable
devices 100, 102. In this case, each wearable device may transfer a
user identifier to the other wearable device, which is then stored
at the wearable device. The user identifier may be a unique
identifier that is specific to the wearable device and/or the user.
The user identifier may be based in part on the user's personal
biological information. When the user connects or "syncs" the
wearable device 100, 102 to a networked computer device, such as
the user's smartphone, the wearable device transmits the user
identifier to the networked computer device, which in turn
transmits the user identifier to a server 505 (or servers) forming
part of a data network such as the internet, the server(s) being
associated with the social network. The users may then be connected
to one another in the social network automatically, e.g. by the
server(s) updating a database to indicate that the users are
connected to one another. Alternatively, in response to receiving
the user identifiers, the server(s) of the social network may send
a friend request to one or both of the users to allow the user(s)
to decide whether to form a connection.
In conventional social networking applications, a user may accept
or grant a friend request by interacting with a control element of
a graphical user interface, e.g. by using a mouse or touchscreen to
click a button on a web interface. Such a mechanism is generally
appropriate when the users plan to share personal information that
they do not believe is particularly sensitive or that has already
be made public. However, users who are very active in a particular
social network, or who are members of a multiple social networks,
may receive a large number of friend requests and therefore become
accustomed to accepting friend requests without considering what
personal data may be made available to other users. This problem
may occur, for example, when a user receives multiple friend
requests from the same user relating to different social networks.
In the case of a social network in which users can exchange
personal biological data, privacy concerns are paramount and users
may abandon the social network if there are no effective safeguards
against their personal data being shared inappropriately.
A solution to these problems is provided by a mechanism for
accepting a friend request in which the user responding to the
request is required to use his or her wearable device 100, 102 to
confirm acceptance of the friend request. For example, the user may
receive the request on his or her smartphone (or other computer
device), which is provided with an application that allows the
request to be accepted only after the user's wearable device 100,
102 is connected (or synched) to the smartphone, e.g. using a
short-range wireless communications protocol. In some cases, the
application may prompt the user to connect the wearable device 100,
102 to the smartphone when the friend request is received and/or
after the user has made a selection to accept the request.
FIG. 5 illustrates the steps of a method for allowing two users to
compare personal biological information when the users are remote
from one another. In the first step 500A, a first user sends a
request using his or her personal computer device (e.g. smartphone)
501 to connect with a second user. For example, the user may select
or "click" a user interface control 503 on the device 501 to "Add"
the other user as a friend in a social network. The personal
computer device 501 transmits the request to one or more servers
505 associated with the social network using a wired or wireless
data connection, e.g. a data connection to the internet or a mobile
telephone data network.
In step 500B, the server(s) 505 transmits an invitation to a
personal computer device 507 of the second user to invite the
second user to form a social network connection with the first
user. The invitation is typically presented to the second user via
a user interface comprising user interface elements 509, 511 that
allow the second user to indicate that he or she wants to either
accept or refuse the invitation.
In step 500C, the second user's personal computer device 507 enters
a mode that allows the second user to confirm acceptance of the
invitation using his or her wearable device 102. For example, the
second user may bring his or her wearable device 102 into proximity
with the personal computer device 507 so that data indicative of
the second user's acceptance can be transmitted from the wearable
device 102 to the personal computer device 102 using a short-range
data connection. Alternatively, the data indicative of the second
user's acceptance can be transmitted to the wearable device 102
using a local area network, such as a Wi-Fi network, to which both
devices are connected. The data transmitted to the wearable device
102 may comprise a user identifier for the second user and/or the
user's biological data, preferably in an encrypted form, as
described above.
In some cases, the second user may be required to press a button on
the wearable device 102, or to perform a gesture while wearing or
holding the wearable device 102 in order to put the wearable device
102 into a "matching mode" whereby data can be transmitted to
and/or received from the user device 102. The wearable device 102
may also use a visual, audible or tactile indicator to indicate to
the user that he or she is required to confirm acceptance of the
invitation using the wearable device 102, e.g. by pressing a button
on the wearable device 102 or performing a particular gesture with
the wearable device 102. Alternatively, or additionally, the
wearable device 1002 may require some form of biometric data
specific to the user to be provided in order to accept the
invitation, e.g. the camera of the wearable device may be used to
record an image of the user's face, which is then processed using
facial recognition software to confirm the identity of the
user.
In step 500D, the second user device 597 transmits data indicative
of the second user's acceptance of the friend request to the one or
more servers 505 associated with the social network. The server(s)
505 transmit a request to the first user device 100 asking the user
to confirm acceptance of the social network connection using his or
her wearable device 100 (as described above for step 500C). In some
examples, this confirmatory step may be performed by the first user
as part of the first step 500A (or at some later point in time).
The first user device 501 then transmits the acceptance to the
server(s) 505 so that the social network connection can be formed
between the two users. A user interface associated with the social
network, e.g. a friend list, may be updated on each of the personal
computer devices 501, 507 to show that the users are connected to
one another.
In some implementations, the personal biological data (which may
also be referred to as "digital DNA") is encrypted and stored
locally on each of the wearable devices 100, 102. When the second
user accepts the first user's friend request using his or her
personal computer device 507, the second user needs to "synch"
(i.e. connect) his or her wearable device 102 with the personal
computer device 507 in order to transfer the second user's
encrypted biological data to the personal computer device 507, e.g.
using a Bluetooth connection. This process can be regarded as
authenticating the user prior to the friend request being accepted.
When the first user receives the friend acceptance from the second
user in an application executing on the personal computer device
501, the first user needs to "synch" his or her wearable device 100
with the personal computer device 501 and transfer the first user's
encrypted personal biological data to the personal computer device
501. The personal biological data of each user is transmitted
between the personal computer devices 501, 507 (e.g. via a wireless
mobile network or the internet), either directly between the
personal computer device or via the server(s) 505. The personal
biological data can then be compared (i.e. matched) at the
server(s) and/or at either or both of the wearable devices 100,
102. The results of the comparison can then be indicated to the
user using an indicator on the personal computer device 501, 507,
such as the display screen of the device, and/or using an indicator
of the wearable device 100, 102, e.g. using a colour changing
LED.
As described above, the comparison of the personal biological
information of the users may be carried out in different ways
depending on what type of information is provided or exchanged by
the users. For example, the personal biological information of each
user may comprise information indicative of the user having one or
more genetic traits or characteristics, e.g. whether the user has a
particular gene, SNP or DNA sequence. The personal biological
information may be encoded as one or more Boolean variables (e.g.
one for each genetic trait), in which case a pairwise comparison
between the variables is performed and the number of matching
variables is then converted into a score. The personal biological
information of the users is defined as matching "overall" if the
score exceeds a predefined threshold, e.g. whether more than 70% of
the compared variables match. Alternatively, the personal
biological information may be encoded in the form of a probability
or rating derived from how likely the user is to express a
particular genetic trait or characteristic. In this case, the
comparison is performed by determining whether the difference
between the corresponding ratings for each genetic trait, or the
whether the relative ratio of the corresponding ratings for each
genetic trait, is less than a predefined threshold. For example,
although the users may have respective scores for "Salt
Sensitivity" of 50/100 and 60/100, the scores may nevertheless be
determined to match because they differ by only 10 points. In some
cases, each genetic trait is associated with a different predefined
threshold. Preferably, each threshold is derived from the variance
of the scores for each trait within the population of users to
ensure that matches for each trait are not too rare or too
frequent.
The results of comparing the users' personal biological data can be
displayed using a graphical user interface on the personal computer
devices 505, 507, e.g. as part of a dedicated application or "app".
For example, the user interface can be similar to that shown in
FIG. 4, with a collection of panels associated with each of the
various genetic traits ("Caffeine Metabolism", "Carbohydrate
Sensitivity" etc.). Each of the panels is modified depending on
whether the two users match for the associated genetic trait, e.g.
to visually de-activate or "grey out" the panel when the associated
genetic trait is present in one user but not the other. The
graphical user interface (or another similar interface) also
provides users with the option of choosing which of their genetic
traits they which to compare. In some cases, the user may be asked
to select which traits he or she wishes as part of the process of
creating or accepting an invitation to compare genetic traits with
another user. Alternatively or additionally, the user may be able
to set "global" privacy settings that prevent some or all of his or
her genetic traits from being shared with other users, or
conversely, allow certain traits to be always available for
comparison with other users' genetic traits.
The one or more servers 505 may act as an "escrow" service in which
the personal biological data of a user is only made available to
another user if that other user has made his or her personal
biological data available for sharing with the user. This service
may be implemented by the one or more servers encrypting the
biological data of a user before the data is transmitted to a
wearable device 100, 102. The decryption key is then only provided
to the wearable device 100, 102 once the server(s) 505 has received
the other user's biological data from the wearable device 100,
102.
The above method 500A-D requires each user to perform actions that
are similar to the "in-person" methods described above for
comparing biological data using the peer wearable devices 100, 102,
except that the short-range connection is to the user's personal
computing device (e.g. smartphone), rather than directly to the
other user's wearable device 100, 102. From the user's perspective,
the requirement that the user must respond using the wearable
device 100, 102 helps reassure the user that he or she is in
control of when the biological data is shared with another
user.
Considering the social network discussed above, a user who is not a
member of the social network may be added as a member of a social
network, or invited to join the social network, in response to his
or her wearable device 100, 102 being brought into proximity with
the wearable device 100, 102 of another user who is already a
member of the social network. In some cases, the users may only
join or only be invited to join the social network if they have
matched (or possibly merely attempted to match) with a user who is
already a member of the social network. In other cases, both users
may be added to the social network even if neither of them is
already a member. The social network may be configured to add the
users as "friends" in response to a match being obtained, i.e. a
link or "edge" is created in the network to join the users. The
social network may also be configured to allow a user to compare
their data with users who are friends of their friends without
requiring "in-person" matching using their wearable devices 100,
102, i.e. a user may match with other users who are twice removed
from them in the social network. This matching may involve the user
inviting the other user to match and the other user accepting the
invitation using the process described above.
The wearable devices 100, 102 may use end-to-end encryption to
ensure that the biological information is not accessible to third
parties. For example, an end-to-end encryption scheme based on
public and private keys can be used in which each of the wearable
devices 100, 102 is associated with a unique public encryption key
that can be transmitted to the other user, e.g. by inclusion in the
invitation to compare biological data or in a friend request. The
public key is used by the wearable device 102 (or possibly by the
personal computer device 507) to encrypt the biological information
prior to transmission to the servers 505. When the encrypted
biological information is received at the other wearable device
100, it is decrypted using a private key that corresponds to the
public key. Preferably, the private key is stored securely on the
wearable device 100 so that no other device is able to decrypt
information that has been encrypted using the corresponding public
key. The wearable device may store the received encrypted data
(and/or the decrypted data) for only a short time (e.g. less than
30 s) or no longer than is necessary for performing the comparison.
In some systems, the system may be configured to ensure that no
copy of a user's biological information may be stored outside the
user's wearable device 100, 102 for more than a predetermined
period.
As mentioned above, the personal biological data stored on of the
wearable device 100, 102 can be used as a way of authenticating the
user prior to an operation being performed by a computer system
such as a personal computer device 501, 507. More generally, a user
of a computer system can be authenticated using a cryptographic
"shared secret" derived from the personal biological information.
The secret can be derived by applying a cryptographic hash
function, e.g. a Secure Hash Algorithm (e.g. SHA-256), to the
personal biological data, such that the personal biological data
cannot be recovered from the secret.
Generation of the secret can be done by the one or more servers 505
using a stored copy of the personal biological data. The secret is
then transmitted to the mobile device 501, 507 and the wearable
device 100, 102 using a secure communications channel, e.g. a
secure shell (SSH) connection, or by encrypting the secret using a
public encryption key obtained from a trusted third-party (e.g. a
certificate authority). The copy of the personal biological data
may be deleted from the server(s) 505 after the secret has been
generated, e.g. so that the only copy of the personal biological
data is stored at the wearable device 100, 102 and/or the personal
computer device 501, 507.
Alternatively, the secret can be generated by the personal computer
device 501, 507 and then sent from the personal computer device
501, 507 to the wearable device 100, 102 over a secure
communications channel, e.g. an SSH connection or a wired
connection between the two devices. The copy of the personal
biological data used to generate the secret may be deleted from the
personal computer device 501, 507 after the secret has been
generated. As a further alternative, the wearable device 100, 102
may generate the secret and then share it with the personal
computer device 501, 507 over a secure communications channel. An
advantage of this approach is that it allows the personal
biological data to be used for authentication without the personal
biological data itself ever needing to be transmitted to the
personal computer device 501, 507.
To authenticate the user, a challenge-response protocol can used in
which the personal computer device 501, 507 sends the wearable
device 100, 102 a challenge request for which the correct response
can only be generated using the shared secret. For example, the
wearable device 100, 102 may receive cryptographic nonce (e.g. a
(pseudo) random number) from the personal computer device 501, 507
and respond with a hash obtained by applying a cryptographic hash
function to a combination of the nonce and shared secret. The
personal computer device 501, 507 generates a "local" hash in the
same way as the wearable device 100, 102. The personal computer
device 100, 102 then authenticates the user by verifying that the
received hash matches the local hash. It will be appreciated that
this method of authenticating users based on personal biological
data stored on a wearable device can be carried out using devices
other than the wearable device 100, 102 or the personal computer
devices 501, 505 described above. In other examples, the wearable
device may be a smartphone, smartwatch, or an item of smart
clothing, or an implanted device. Similarly, in some examples, the
computer system requiring user authentication may be an automatic
teller machine, an electronic (e.g. "keyless") lock, a computer
system for online banking, an elevator control system or a vehicle
ignition system.
The personal biological information used to generate the shared
secret may comprise data indicative of the user having a particular
DNA sequence or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), although
other data derived from such genetic data can also be used, such as
scores indicative of the user's genetic traits. Optionally, the
personal biological information may be stored only at the wearable
device 100, 102, such that if the wearable device is lost or
damaged the user can no longer be authenticated by the computer
system (i.e. personal computer device 501, 507 in the example
discussed above). When this happens, the shared secret can be
re-generated from personal biological data obtained by performing
another test (e.g. genetic test) on a biological sample provided by
the user. It is preferable that the shared secret is derived from
genetic information as, unlike other forms of biometric data (such
as retinal or fingerprint data), as generally speaking, a user's
genotype does not change over time (e.g. as the user ages).
Although the embodiments and examples described above have focussed
on comparing users' genetic traits, the wearable devices 100, 102
can also be used for comparing users' physiological and/or
biochemical data and/or data indicative of the users' environment.
This data is recorded by one or more sensors of the wearable device
100, 102, such as one or more of the following: pulse rate sensors
(e.g photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors; respiration rate sensors;
heart rate sensors (also for measuring heart rate variability);
blood pressure sensors; microneedles for performing in situ blood
tests (e.g. of blood glucose levels); air quality or pollution
sensors (e.g. mass spectrometers); and UV light monitors (e.g.
photo-diodes). User environmental data may alternatively (or
additionally) be obtained by tracking the user's position (e.g.
using a global positioning system, GPS, sensor) and using pollution
or UV index map data to estimate the user's exposure.
The wearable device 100, 102 stores measurements provided by the
sensor(s) along with a timestamp so that users can compare time
series data. For example, users may compare how their respective
heart rates varied over the course of a physical activity, such as
a marathon or cycling race. In some cases, the wearable device 100,
102 integrates the sensor data over time to produce one or more
values that can be compared by the users. For example, users who
are diabetic can compare how long they were each in a hypoglycemic
state over the past day, week or month, so that they can compare
how effectively they each manage their blood-glucose levels. The
integrated sensor data may also be used to compare the users'
exposure to environmental conditions such as UV light and/or
atmospheric pollution (e.g. NOx or particulates).
The physiological, biochemical and/or environmental data can be
compared by the wearable devices 100, 102 being brought into
contact or close proximity with one another, or using the "remote
matching" procedure, as described above. As for genetic traits, the
users may select one or more categories of data (such as resting
pulse rate, respiration rate, number of steps walked, exposure to
pollutants etc) using a user interface provided on the wearable
device 100, 102 of the personal computer device 501, 507, e.g.
using a smartphone user interface similar to the interface shown in
FIG. 4.
Users who are connected to one another within a social network
(e.g. a social network populated by user's matching their genetic
traits with one another) may also use the social network to compare
their data on an ongoing basis. For example, the users' data can be
stored by servers associated with the social network to allow users
to compare historical data with one another and/or data that is
updated dynamically. A users may identify another user of the
social network using a search tool, e.g. to lookup the user by name
or nickname.
Optionally, the sensors for monitoring physiological and/or
biochemical data may be separate from the wearable device 100, 102
so that the sensors can be worn on a different part of the body
from the wearable device. Processing of the sensor data may take
place either on the wearable device 100, 102 or on the personal
computer device 501, 507, after it has been transmitted to the
personal computer device using a wired or wireless connection.
The users' physiological, biochemical and/or environmental data may
be compared separately from or in combination with the users' data
indicative of one or more genetic traits. For example, a user may
set (or be set by another user) a target or goal which is
determined by the user's genetic traits, such as to achieve a lower
resting heart rate (as measured by the wearable device 100, 102) as
a result of physical training if the user has a genetic trait
associated with hypertension. Two users may each set a goal for one
another and each user's progress towards the goal can be compared
at intervals, e.g. daily or weekly.
In a preferred embodiment, the physiological, biochemical and/or
environmental data is used to modulate product recommendations. The
product recommendations are typically derived from the user's
genetic traits, as described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/043,590B2 (for
example). In one exemplary use case, a product that contains
vitamin D may be recommended for a user who is predisposed to
needing high levels of vitamin D if the user has not been exposed
to enough UV light. Users may compare the number of product
recommendations that have been modulated based on physiological,
biochemical and/or environmental data. Comparisons can be made for
different categories of product, e.g. the number of product
recommendations for products containing saturated or unsaturated
fats that have been modulated can be compared, which may be of
particular interest to users whose genetic traits indicate that
they are susceptible to high cholesterol levels.
The modulation of product recommendations provides a "behavioural
feedback loop" that helps nudge or encourage/discourage use of
certain user behaviour, such as consuming certain products and/or
performing certain types of activity. The social experience of
comparing data with other users typically has a substantial effect
on helping users to change their behaviour. For example, users may
support one another as they each try to adjust their behaviour to
meet certain goals, such as exercising more to ensure such that the
number of modulated product recommendations falls below a threshold
number. In this case, the wearable device 100, 102 is typically
configured as a state machine that transitions between a "green"
(healthy) state in which the number of product recommendations is
below a threshold number, and an "amber" state in which more than a
threshold number of product recommendations have been modulated as
a result of the user's behaviour. The wearable device 100, 102
records the amount of time spent in either state (e.g. over the
course of a day) so that users are able to compare how effectively
they are each managing their behaviour/lifestyle.
Users may also compete with (or challenge) one another to achieve a
pre-agreed goal, e.g. to determine which user has a smaller number
of modulated product recommendations over the course of a week (or
other period). The targets or goals may be derived from the user's
genetic traits to maximise the health benefits for each user and/or
to ensure a fair comparison between users with different genetic
traits. Rewards or incentives are provided to users in the form of
digital trophies or badges associated with an online profile or by
offering product discounts to the users (e.g. online discount
codes). An indicator on the wearable device 100, 102 can be used to
inform the user when another user takes the lead in achieving a
particular target. Users may also be sponsored to meet certain
goals, e.g. to raise money for a cause or charity that helps with
health problems related to a particular genetic trait. Users may
also be invited to join one or more online communities or chatrooms
depending on their behaviour and/or genetic traits, e.g. so that
users can support one another in meeting particular exercise goals
or in reducing the amount of particular types of food or drink they
consume (with the types of product being determined by the users'
genetic traits).
In another preferred embodiment, users are able to match their
genetic traits and/or behaviours, as indicated by their
physiological, biochemical and/or environmental data, with one or
more "virtual profiles" that are associated with users who have
given their consent for their genetic traits and/or behavioural
data to be compared with other users. In this case, the comparison
is "one sided" and users making the comparison are not required to
send their data from their wearable device 100, 102 in order to
find out whether their data matches that of the virtual profile,
i.e. the wearable device 100, 102 of the user associated with the
virtual profile is not involved in the comparison. The virtual
profile typically comprises genetic traits and behavioural data
uploaded from a wearable device 100, 102 worn by a real user, who
may be an athlete, sportsperson or a well-known public figure.
However, in some cases, the physiological, biochemical and/or
environmental data included in the virtual profile may be generated
computationally to provide users with a "virtual pacemaker" whose
behaviour they can seek to emulate.
It will be appreciated by the person of skill in the art that
various modifications may be made to the above described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the present
invention. For example, as mentioned above, in some cases, only one
of two peer users may have a wearable device 100, 102 (i.e. band),
with the other only having a smartphone.
* * * * *